Taxation or Tumbrels
1 hour ago
Saturday, December 16, 2017
Money Saving Tips
You see those articles in the press, on TV, and all over the Internet: how to save money and finally get ahead by doing a few things differently. You know the articles. They tell you to avoid buying a fancy coffee on the way into work, or to make your own lunch instead of buying it.
Sure, those things save you money. However, they don't make up for your health care costs tripling, your income suddenly dropping by $25,000, or your company doing away with its retirement plan.
Politicians can be the worse. They say that the reason people can't buy houses is because they are spending money on avocado toast. The real problem is that people have to go into debt to get degrees for jobs that don't pay as well as manufacturing jobs did 30 years ago.
Sure, and we can pay for health care if we don't buy a fancy cell phone. Not buying a top of the line cell phone would almost buy me one month of health insurance -almost. In the real world, I'm starting my third year with a $99 phone with a plan that costs me less than $13/month. I'd be more than happy to pay that for health insurance. As it is I don't have health insurance.
Saving money can cost you money too. If your clothing is not up to “professional standards,” you are less likely to get promoted and more likely to get fired. Those people who got out for lunch with the boss are more likely to get promoted than the guy eating lunch at his desk. Even in blue collar fields, it matters. Not having quality tools or even really good work boots makes a big difference.
There was a time when I was injured, out of work, and had taken a huge income cut. We were so tight that I found uses for potato peels. That's right, I wouldn't even throw out potato peels. Then some monthly bill would shoot up. It was depressing. Those money saving articles were of no help at all. When you can't even afford to throw out potato peels, articles on how to save money on airline tickets weren't cutting it. I used to joke that garbage was for rich people. We threw almost nothing away.
In my case, what actually made a difference was winning my case against the retirement system and getting four years of back pay. Amazing how getting more money can improve your financial situation.
-Sixbears
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It really hurts when you have children and you don't now how you're going to pay the power bill. There was a time when my kids had kool aid sandwiches and I felt lucky to have the bread.
ReplyDeleteI was glad that I had installed a moderately sized solar electric system earlier. At least that could not be turned off.
DeleteWe were within two weeks of losing the house when I won my case and got my backpay. Spent a lot of it catching up on the mortgage and taxes.
But I thought under Obamacare everyone was supposed to be covered even if they could not afford it? My wife is a Home Heath PT. Invariably those of her patients that complain the loudest about not being able to afford the basics are sporting the latest 800$ Iphone with a 400$ a month contract, and have the 72 inch TV with the full cable package. Hard to feel sorry for them when they think they are immune to the bad choices they make.
ReplyDeleteObamacare was a huge disappointment, but I don't see the Republicans doing anything to improve healthcare.
DeleteBut you are right, people make some crappy financial choices.
Frankly, the republicans aren't impressing me either, Sixbears, but if all they do is get rid of the penalty for being poor, it's a step in the right direction.
DeleteThat's one thing I can agree with. Punishing those too poor for health care never made any sense to me.
DeleteAnyone who was paying attention could read the writing on the wall when they passed the law. It was nothing but a "Pig-ina-poke" from the get go. The author of the whole ponzi scheme that is Obamacare said it was designed to fail from the start. Getting rid of the mandate to purchase the product is a step in the right direction. Opening the market across state lines to real competition so you can buy what you as an individual determines best suits your needs will be the next positive step.
DeletePersonally, I'm in favor of doing what the rest of the civilized world does. If that's too much socialism, we could go with the Singapore model. Heck, just about everybody else gets better health care for less.
DeleteThe notion that other nations provide better healthcare for less is a myth promoted by the likes of Michael Moore. And the trouble with the state healcare model is that responsibility and authority are inexorably linked. The minute you abdicate your responsibility and thrust on-to another the duty to provide for you, he assumes authority over you and owns you. He gets to decide how much, how often, when, the quality of, or if he will provide at all. And he gets to tell you how high you will jump. You have to ask yourself if you are willing to make that deal with that devil. I for one am not. I saw how my father was denied chemo treatment under Medicare because he was "too old" and the cost VS probability of success could not be justified.
DeleteI've yet to meet anyone from Canada who'd trade systems. Just saying.
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